Victorian Opposition promises 24-hour weekend public transport trial

Victoria's Opposition has promised to trial 24-hour public transport in Melbourne on weekends if it wins this year's state election.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews says he would run a one-year $50 million trial of round-the-clock trains and trams during 2015 to help get people home from late-night outings.

He says it would help reduce some of the alcohol-fuelled violence seen in the CBD on weekends.

"When you talk to experts, venues closing and large amounts of people spilling out onto the streets at 3am, that's a recipe for danger," he said.

"Giving people a much safer option to get home, being able to disperse people out of the city in a much more efficient and effective way, that just makes common sense, it's going to lead to a much safer outcome."

Under the plan late-night shuttles would also take people from the Melbourne CBD to regional cities including Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Traralgon.

The Victorian Government has criticised the proposal, saying the current NightRider bus service, which runs in the early hours of the morning, is adequate and there is no need to duplicate it.

Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder says the Government would rather spend the money on improving regular services.

"It'd be looking at getting people to and from work safely, quickly and comfortably and making sure the same applied to school children and getting people to and from sporting events and doing so in a safe, reliable manner," he said.